Sophia Dorothea of Celle, Electoral Princess of Hanover | Unofficial Royalty Sophia Dorothea of Celle, Electoral Princess of Hanover by Susan Flantzer Credit – Wikipedia Sophia Dorothea of Celle was never Queen, but she was the wife of King George I before he became King, the mother of King George II , and the ancestor of the current British Royal Family. She was born on September 15, 1666 in Celle, now in Germany, the only child of George William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and his mistress Éléonore d’Esmier d’Olbreuse . Sophia’s mother was from a noble, but untitled French Huguenot family. Éléonore was a lady-in-waiting to Marie de la Tour d’Auvergne, Duchess of Thouars whose son had married into the Hesse-Kassel family. During a visit to Hesse-Kassel in 1664, Éléonore met Georg Wilhelm who immediately fell in love with her. Éléonore became Georg Wilhelm’s mistress and received the title Frau (Lady) von Harburg.

In 1674, their daughter Sophia Dorothea was legitimized by Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I who granted Éléonore the titles Gräfin (Countess) von Harburg and Wilhelmsburg. Éléonore and Georg Wilhelm married morganatically in 1676. Because of her mother’s background, Sophia Dorothea was not considered as a marriage prospect by many of the German ruling houses. Georg Ludwig, Hereditary Prince of Brunswick-Lüneburg in 1680; Credit – Wikipedia At the age of 16, in a marriage arranged by the bride and groom’s fathers (who were brothers), Sophia Dorothea was married to her first cousin, 22-year old Georg Ludwig, Hereditary Prince of Brunswick-Lüneburg , the eldest son of Ernst August, Elector of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Sophia of the Palatinate (commonly referred to as Electress Sophia of Hanover), whose mother was Elizabeth Stuart, the second child and eldest daughter of King James VI of Scotland/King James I of England .

The couple had two children: Sophia Dorothea of Hanover (1687 – 1757), married 1706 Frederick William, Margrave of Brandenburg (later King Frederick William I of Prussia), had issue Sophia Dorothea with her two children, circa 1691; Credit – Wikipedia The marriage was happy at first, but soon both George and Sophia Dorothea found affection elsewhere. George fell in love with one of his mother’s ladies-in-waiting, Melusine von der Schulenburg . Sophia Dorothea fell in love with a Swedish Count, Philip Christoph von Königsmarck , an officer in the Hanoverian army. Despite warnings, from her mother and friends, Sophia Dorothea and her lover wrote letters to each other, met secretly, and planned to escape Hanover together. On the morning of July 2, 1694, after a meeting with Sophia Dorothea, von Königsmarck disappeared from Leineschloss Castle in Hanover and was never seen again. It was widely believed that George ordered von Königsmarck’s death.

There is some speculation that the letters were forgeries, and the question of Sophia Dorothea’s guilt is still debated. On December 28, 1694, a tribunal of judges and Lutheran Church officials declared the marriage of George and Sophia Dorothea dissolved on the grounds of Sophia Dorothea’s desertion. Philip Christoph von Königsmarck; Credit – Wikipedia Meanwhile, Sophia Dorothea had been moved to the Castle of Ahlden in her father’s territory of Celle. She hoped to be reunited with von Königsmarck, whose disappearance had not been made known to her. Finally, Sophia Dorothea was told about the terms of the marriage dissolution. Because she was considered the guilty party, she was not allowed to remarry, would never again see her children, and would be kept as a prisoner at the Castle of Ahlden for the remainder of her life. The Castle of Ahlden had guard unit of 40 soldiers with five to ten of them guarding the castle around the clock.

Sophia Dorothea had a household consisting of two maids of honor, several maids and other staff for the household and kitchen, who were all chosen for their loyalty to Hanover. Castle of Ahlden; Photo Credit – Wikipedia Sophia Dorothea’s former husband had a change in fortune when the British House of Stuart failed to provide a legitimate Protestant heir. His mother Sophia of Hanover was the closest Protestant heir and was named the heiress presumptive to the British throne. Sophia of Hanover died two months before Queen Anne of Great Britain died and Sophia Dorothea’s former husband succeeded to the British throne as King George I in 1714 upon the death of Queen Anne. Although Sophia Dorothea spent 32 years in captivity, she received an income which allowed her to live in the style of a princess and she was able to go for drives in her coach with an escort. Her father refused to visit her, but her mother Éléonore did make visits. During the last years of her life, Éléonore cared for her daughter and unsuccessfully tried to obtain her release.

Éléonore asked Queen Anne to assist in obtaining Sophia Dorothea’s release as her situation was not befitting the mother of a future king of Great Britain. When her former father-in-law died in 1698, Sophia Dorothea expressed her condolences in a letter to her former husband, saying that she would pray for him every day, begging him to forgive her error, and asking, in vain, to be allowed to see her two children. As Sophia Dorothea’s father was on his deathbed in 1705, he wanted to see his daughter one last time in order to make peace with her, but Prime Minister Count Bernstorff refused and the dying man did not have the strength to stand up to him. In 1722, Sophia Dorothea’s mother died and surrounded only by enemies, Sophia Dorothea hoped to see her daughter once again. Her daughter, now Queen of Prussia, came to Hanover to see her father, King George I, in 1725, when he was on one of his visits to Hanover.

Sophia Dorothea, who heard the news that her daughter was in Hanover, dressed more carefully than usual and waited in vain at the window every day for a visit from her daughter. Sophia Dorothea apparently drowned her sorrows in the pleasure of eating, and became quite corpulent, increasingly suffering from fevers and indigestion. She suffered a stroke in August of 1726 and never again left her bed. Sophia Dorothea refused medical attention and food, and died on November 13, 1726 at the age of 60. King George I would not allow mourning at the British court and was furious when he learned that his daughter had ordered court mourning in Prussia. Because the guards at the Castle of Ahlden had no funeral or burial instructions, Sophia Dorothea’s remains were placed in a lead coffin and stored in the castle cellar. In January of 1727, orders came from London to bury the remains without any ceremony in the cemetery of Ahlden. However, this was impossible because of weeks of heavy rains and the coffin remained in the castle cellar.

Finally in May of 1727, Sophia Dorothea was buried in the middle of night beside her parents at the Stadtkirche St. Marien in Celle, Germany. Her former husband King George I died four weeks later after receiving a deathbed letter from Sophia Dorothea cursing him, and their son acceded to the British throne as King George II. Stadtkirche St. Marien in Celle, Germany; Photo Credit – Wikipedia The Wives of the Georgian Kings: Sophia Dorothea of Celle – Royal Central ‘Display Diana’s wedding dress’ designer asks William and Harry They say that behind every successful man is a woman, and, in a similar way, behind every good ruler is a strong consort. History is littered with examples of Queens who have supported their Kings through all the trials and tribulations that the Crown has been confronted with. The Georgian Kings, in particular, had very interesting wives – some progressive, some charming, some loved and some detested – but all equally fascinating. To mark the 300th anniversary of the beginning of Georgian rule in the United Kingdom, let us take a look at the lives of the wives of the Georgian Kings.

The first royal wife in this five part series is Sophia Dorothea of Celle – the Queen that never was. She married George I at a time when he was still only the heir to the Duchy of Hanover. The couple had two children, including the future King George II, but their relationship was turbulent, and after a few years of marriage they were divorced and George had his erstwhile wife imprisoned in a tower. Even though George became the King of Great Britain and Ireland, Sophia was never crowned, and ended her life looked up in a tower, bitter and resentful. Sophia Dorothea of Celle as a young woman The funny thing is that Sophia Dorothea could easily have been the heiress to the Duchy of Hanover herself. Her father, George William, was the Duke of Brunswick Lüneburg, and was set to inherit Hanover someday. But his claim to the Duchy came with one condition: George William had to marry the bride that his father had selected for him – Princess Sophia of Palatinate. George couldn’t stand Sophia, and promised to hand over Hanover to his brother, Ernest Augustus, if he would marry Sophia and free George from his betrothal.

Ernest Augustus agreed, and went on to become the 1st Elector of Hanover, while George William settled for the smaller Duchy of Celle. A few years later, George William fell in love with Eleanore d’Olbreuse, and their only child, Sophia Dorothea, was born on 15th September 1666. But the child had been born out of wedlock, and in an effort to legitimise her, George William and Eleanore were officially married in 1676. With her birthright secure, Sophia Dorothea had many suitors, and received offers of marriage from the future King of Denmark, and, when that fell through, from the Duke of Wolfenbüttel. However, Electress Sophia was of the mind that Hanover and Celle should stay within the same family, and proposed to Sophia Dorothea’s parents that the young girl marry her son George Ludwig, the future King George I. Sophia Dorothea wasn’t happy with this idea.

She had her heart set on the Duke, and when her future mother-in-law showed her a miniature of George, she is said to have flung the portrait across the room, shouting: “I will not marry the pig snout!” Despite her protests, Sophia Dorothea was, extremely unwillingly, forced to accept the marriage proposal, and when she met her future husband for the first time she fell into a dead faint. It would prove to be a rocky start to an extremely turbulent relationship. The feeling of discontent was mutual. George was not fond of the bride that had been chosen for him either, and only looked forward to the marriage for the dowry that it would bring him. In fact, even Electress Sophia didn’t like her daughter-in-law very much, and wrote about her in a letter: “One hundred thousand thalers a year is a goodly sum to pocket… without speaking of a pretty wife, who will find a match in my son George Ludwig, the most pigheaded, stubborn boy who ever lived, and who has round his brains such a thick crust that I defy any man or woman ever to discover what is in them.

He does not care much for the match itself, but one hundred thousand thalers a year have tempted him as they would have tempted anybody else.” In November 1682, George and Sophia Dorothea were married in Celle Castle. The marriage produced two children; a son, George Augustus, and a daughter, Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. However, George soon took a mistress, and even began to behave violently towards his wife. Alone, and feeling betrayed and neglected, Sophia Dorothea began an affair with the handsome Swedish Count, Philip Christoph von Königsmarck. They had met in her native Celle, and were soon exchanging love letters and writing their names on the palace windows. When George found out about his wife’s adultery, he confronted her. Not wanting to be wronged, Sophia Dorothea retaliated, questioning her husband about his own mistresses. The ensuing argument turned violent, and ended with attendants having to pull George away to stop him from attacking his wife. Sophia Dorothea was extremely distressed by her husband’s behaviour, and planned to leave him and elope with Count Königsmarck.

However, the Elector of Hanover, having got wind of her plans, had his guards arrest the Count. The Count mysteriously disappeared after that, and it is believed that was killed and hurriedly buried beneath the floorboards in the palace. George, who had enough of his wife’s infidelity, started divorce proceedings against her. Sophia Dorothea was found guilty of “malicious desertion”, and their marriage was legally dissolved in 1694. Sophia Dorothea was glad to be rid of her husband. She said: “We desire nothing so much as that separation of marriage requested by our husband may take place”, but her happiness was not to last. The very next year, George had her imprisoned at the Castle of Ahlden, and, to make matters worse, she was forbidden from contacting either of her children. This caused a rift between George and his son, who deeply resented the fact that he was not allowed to see his mother.

Meanwhile, in England, after it became clear that neither King William III nor the future Queen Anne were likely to produce any heirs, the Act of Settlement was passed in 1701, naming Electress Sophia, a protestant, as the heir presumptive to the throne. Despite being over 70 years old, Sophia was as fit as a fiddle, and certainly in better health than Queen Anne, who suffered from gout and pain in her limbs. And she would have been Queen too, if it were not for the fact that she died, only two months before Queen Anne. George took her place as heir presumptive, and ascended the throne in 1714, following Anne’s death. Sophia remained in imprisonment, and no one was ever told exactly what had become of the woman who would have been Queen. In 1726, Sophia Dorothea died of liver failure, still locked up in Ahlden. On her deathbed, she wrote an angry letter to George, now King of England, cursing him for his treatment of her.

George refused to allow mourning for her in either England or Hanover, but his daughter, who was the Queen of Prussia by that time, went against her father’s wishes and wore black in her mother’s honour. Sophia Dorothea wasn’t buried until nearly six months after her death. Her final resting place is in the Old Chapel in Celle, next to that of her parents. Around four weeks later, King George suffered from a fatal stroke while on a visit to Hanover. Coincidentally, the King had received his late wife’s last letter only a couple of days previously, which led to the spreading of ghostly stories about Sophia Dorothea’s spirit coming back to haunt her much despised husband. George I and Sophia Dorothea may not have had the best of relationships, but their son, George Augustus, and his wife were much happier together. Look out for the next instalment in this series to read about the second Georgian Queen – Caroline of Ansbach. Photo credit: ‘Sophie Dorothea, Princess of Hannover by Henry Gascard’ via Wikimedia Commons Related Items So awful that he locked her up!

British Royals latest Sophia Dorothea - Question.com Sophia Dorothea Related Category: British and Irish History: Biographies (sōfī´ə dŏrəthē´ə), 16661726, electress of Hanover, wife of Elector George Louis (later King George I of England); sometimes called Sophia Dorothea of Celle. Married to George in 1682, she bore him two children: George, later George II of England, and Sophia Dorothea, who became the wife of Frederick William I of Prussia. In 1694 she was accused of having an affair with Count Philipp Königsmark . Her presumed lover disappeared (probably murdered), and she herself was divorced and imprisoned for life. George I's harsh treatment of her was one major cause of the king's unpopularity in England.

Sign In 1000+ images about Sophia Dorothea of Celle on Pinterest | Duke, English monarchs and King george Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas Sophia Dorothea of Celle 21 Pins132 Followers Sophia Dorothea of Celle (15 September 1666 – 13 November 1726) was the wife and cousin of George Louis, Elector of Hanover, later George I of Great Britain, and mother of George II. She is best remembered for her affair with Philip Christoph von Königsmarck - who disappeared and was rumoured to have been murdered on the orders of Countess Clara von Platen - that led to her being imprisoned in Castle of Ahlden for the last thirty years of her life. Birth of Sophia Dorothea of Celle: Wife of the First Hanoverian King of Great Britain Birth of Sophia Dorothea of Celle: Wife of the First Hanoverian King of Great Britain by AlexandriaIngham Sophia Dorothea could have been the first Hanoverian Queen Consort of England. Instead, she had a miserable marriage that led to her imprisonment and lonely death.

1666 is the year that many people know as when the Great Fire of London broke out. However, on September 15 of this year, Sophia Dorothea of Celle was born and she would grow up to have a connection with Britain. Her husband and son were the first two Hanoverian kings of Great Britain from 1714. However, her life wasn’t a fairytale and she died of liver failure at the age of 60. The Early Start to a Sad Life for Sophia Dorothea Sophia Dorothea, like many women, didn't get the choice of who to marry and it lead to a very unhappy marriage. Sophia Dorothea was an only child—the daughter of George William, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg and Eleonore d’Esmier d’Olbreuse, Countess of Williamsburg, his mistress. Despite their long term affair, it wasn’t until10 years after Sophia’s birth that the two officially married. Their marriage before this had been morganatical since the two were of unequal rank. The morganatical status prevented George William’s mistress, and their children, from taking his titles and lands.

The marriage was also referred to as a left-hand marriage since the groom would stand on the left instead of the right. There were a few marriage prospects for Sophia. The first was with the future King of Denmark at the time. However, Duchess Sophia, Sophia Dorothea’s future mother-in-law, talked the family out of that option. The second, to the Duke of Wolfenbuttel, did end in an engagement but nothing happened; again, because of Duchess Sophia. The duchess wanted Sophia Dorothea to marry George Louis, who was the duchess’ son and Sophia Dorothea’s cousin. She never wanted to marry the man but her father forced her. Despite the titles, Sophia Dorothea simply didn’t want to marry someone known as “the pig snout” in Hanover. From the start, the marriage was doomed to be unhappy. It didn’t helped that Sophia Dorothea was hated by George’s immediate family, surprisingly that included Duchess Sophia. Duchess Sophia allowed (and wanted) the marriage for one reason: the hundred thousand thalers that she would receive each year.

The duchess even made it clear in a letter to her niece that the money was the main reason for the marriage. Read More About the Unhappy Marriage Between George I and Sophia Dorothea View on Amazon Sophia Dorothea Marries George Louis of Hanover George Louis of Hanover may have seemed the right choice for Sophia Dorothea's parents but it wasn't for her. On November 22, 1682, when Sophia Dorothea was just 16-years-old, the two married. George wasn’t happy with the marriage either and constantly remained formal, which made it difficult for her to fall in love with him. She didn’t have the best etiquette and he often scolded her for this. They would also argue on a regular basis. It was clear that they resented and were bitter towards each other. However, in 1683, George Augustus (later George II of Great Britain) was born and then a daughter, Sophia Dorothea, three years later. It seemed like everything was on track and they could be happy, until George Louis took a mistress.

He favoured Melusina von Schulenburg and started to neglect Sophia Dorothea, even in public. Fearing the marriage would come to an end or would be severely disrupted, George’s parents urged him to be more discreet with his mistress and respect his wife. The only reason they were worried as due to the yearly income of a hundred thousand thalers. George’s response was to make it much harder for Sophia Dorothea. He started a brutal relationship against her, which led to her hatred for the man. Sophia Dorothea Has an Affair with Philip Christoph von Konigsmarck Sophia Dorothea finds happiness with a Swedish count It was clear that Sophia Dorothea was not happy—and why would she be? Her husband was not the man she wanted to marry, her in-laws hated her and her husband was brutal and negligent to her. It was clear that she was going to start looking at others for the love and devotion she clearly needed. Thanks to one of her brothers-in-law, she met Philip Christoph von Konigsmarck, a Swedish count. The relationship with the count started innocent. They would flirt but he was only there to cheer her up.

He remained in Hanover for two years but the whole time the relationship remained platonic. He paid her the attention she craved and made her laugh and smile; something only her children had really managed for the last few years. It wasn’t until after his returned from the Peloponnese military expedition in 1690 that the platonic relationship grew. Love letters were sent between each other. These letters suggest that they consummated their relationship. These letters ended up in the wrong hands—Sophia Dorothea’s father-in-law, Elector Ernest Augustus. Instead of making a show of his daughter-in-law’s betrayal, Ernest choose to send the lover to war. He was to fight for the Hanoverian cause against Louis XIV. Unlike other soldiers, Konigsmarck was never given leave so they could visit Hanover. It was to stop him from seeing his lover again. However, in a rebellion against the orders, he left his post and rode to Hanover. It took him six days and on the seventh, he admitted to his desertion to Field Marshal Heinrich. He begged to remain in Hanover for leave and was allowed to remain.

However, his Field Marshal suggested that he either leave the country or end the affair. Ernest didn’t give him the option and exiled him. Memorabilia of Sophia Dorothea and Count Philip Christoph von Konigsmark The Aftermath of Sophia Dorothea’s Affair The affair didn't end happily for Sophia Dorothea or the Count. George Louis was not happy with his wife, to say the least. He criticised her for the affair but she was not about to let him get away with being so hypocritical and brought up his affair. George attacked his wife, pulling out her hair and leaving many purple bruises. He overpowered her so much that her attendants had to pull him away from her to help her. The count unfortunately disappears after 1694. There were confessions from the Countess Platen and several guards about his death while he attempted to get Sophia Dorothea out of Hanover. After a quick divorce, Sophia found herself sent to the Castle of Ahlden and imprisoned. She was there for the rest of her life—30 years—and was often called the Princess of Ahlden. However, there was no proof of infidelity.

The only “proof” was the love letters sent between the two but these were never proven to have been sent by the two! The imprisonment did lead to George Augustus, later King George II, to hate his father, as he was so against the treatment his mother suffered. The Death of Sophia Dorothea of Celle Sophia Dorothea died unhappy, extremely ill and in prison and wasn't even offered a decent burial. Sophia Dorothea’s sad story doesn’t end there. During the August of 1726, she fell ill and remained in bed for the whole time. She actually remained there until her death on November 13 of that year. She died due to gall bladder occlusion and liver failure after 60 stones were found. She wasn’t allowed an official burial and her body was placed in a casket, which sat in the cellar of the castle until May of the next year. Then it was moved to Celle so she could be buried with her parents. George Louis would not allow Hanover or London—as he was now King George I of Great Britain—to mourn.

However, the Berlin court wore black under the orders of the daughter of the two, who had married Fredrick the Great (Fredrick William of Prussia). However, Sophia Dorothea did get the final say in the relationship. She wrote a letter, which cursed him. He didn’t receive it until after her death, sometime before his death. George actually died just four weeks after his ex-wife. George’s reign in Great Britain was not the most successful either. He was ridiculed by his subjects and they resented his poor English skills. He was also seen as too German and his treatment of Sophia Dorothea was something they had all heard about and disliked. Arguably, the only reason he remained on the throne was because of his Protestant beliefs. The country didn’t want the Roman Catholic James Stuart, son of King James II. 1000+ images about King George I on Pinterest | Queen of england, Non fiction articles and King george Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas King George I George I was born March 28, 1660, son of Ernest, Elector of Hanover and Sophia, granddaughter of James I.

He was raised in the court of Hanover, and married Sophia, Princess of Celle, in 1682. The marriage produced one son (the future George II) and one daughter (Sophia Dorothea, who married her cousin, Frederick William I, King of Prussia). After ruling England for thirteen years, George I died of a stroke on a journey to Hanover on October 11, 1727. 15 Pins135 Followers Duchess Sophie Dorothea Of Hanover, Of Celle (born of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Celle line)) - Hertell Web Site - MyHeritage Duchess Sophie Dorothea Of Hanover, Of Celle (born of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Celle line)) Born: Nov 13 1726 (at age 60) In: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sophie-Dorothea of Braunschweig-Lüneburg with her children George and Sophia Dorothea .

Spouse Ahlden , Germany Duchess Sophia Dorothea of Brunswick and Luneburg (Celle line) (15 September 1666 – 13 November 1726) was the wife and cousin of George Louis, Elector of Hanover , later George I of Great Britain , and mother of George II through an arranged marriage of state , instigated by the machinations of Duchess Sophia of Hanover . She is best remembered for her alleged affair with Philip Christoph von Königsmarck that led to her being imprisoned in the Castle of Ahlden for the last thirty years of her life. Parentage and marriage[ edit ] Sophia Dorothea of Brunswick-Lüneburg was born on 15 September 1666, the only child of George William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg by his long term mistress, Eleonore d'Esmier d'Olbreuse (1639–1722), Countess of Williamsburg, a Huguenot lady, the daughter of Alexander II d'Esmiers, Marquess of Olbreuse.

George eventually married his daughter's mother officially in 1676 (they had been married morganatically previously). There was some talk of marriage between Sophia and the (then) future king of Denmark, but the reigning queen was talked out of it by Duchess Sophia (her future mother-in-law). Another engagement to the duke of Wolfenbüttel was broken off after Duchess Sophia convinced her brother-in-law of the advantage of having Sophia Dorothea marry her cousin. This occurred on the day the engagement between Sophia Dorothea and the duke was to be announced. When told of the change in plans and her new future husband, Sophia Dorothea shouted that "I will not marry the pig snout!" (a name he was known by in Hanover ), and threw a miniature of George Louis brought for her by Duchess Sophia against the wall.[ citation needed ]Forced by her father, she fainted into her mother's arms on her first meeting with her future mother-in-law. She fainted again when presented to George Louis.

On 22 November 1682, Sophia Dorothea married her cousin, George Louis , who inherited the Principality of Lüneburg after the death of his father-in-law and uncle, George William in 1705, and also later inherited the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland and became George I through his mother, Duchess Sophia , a granddaughter of King James I . The marriage of George Louis and Sophia Dorothea was an unhappy one. The immediate family of George Louis , especially Duchess Sophia, hated and despised Sophia Dorothea. The desire for the marriage was almost purely financial, as she wrote to her niece Elizabeth Charlotte , "One hundred thousand thalers a year is a goodly sum to pocket, without speaking of a pretty wife, who will find a match in my son George Louis, the most pigheaded, stubborn boy who ever lived, who has round his brains such a thick crust that I defy any man or woman ever to discover what is in them.

He does not care much for the match itself, but one hundred thousand thalers a year have tempted him as they would have tempted anybody else." [1] These feelings of contempt were shared by George himself, who was oddly formal to her. George married her in Celle Castle, November 22nd, 1682. Sophia was frequently scolded for her lack of etiquette, and the two had loud and bitter arguments. Things seemed better after their first two children, a son named George Augustus born in 1683 and a daughter named after her in 1686. But George Louis acquired a mistress Melusina von Schulenburg and started pointedly neglecting his wife. George Louis' parents asked him to be more circumspect with his mistress, fearful that a disruption in the marriage would disrupt the hundred thousand thalers, but he responded by going out of his way to treat his wife brutally. Sophia Dorothea in 1686.

Philip Christoph von Königsmarck (4 March 1665 – 2 July 1694) It was in these circumstances that Sophia Dorothea re-made the acquaintance of Swedish count Philip Christoph von Königsmarck , with whom her name is inseparably associated. The two first met in Celle when he was sixteen. They flirted innocently, and traced their names on the palace windows with the words "Forget me not". On 1 March 1688 he reminded her of their previous acquaintance, and the two renewed it. George Louis' younger brothers loved the count and brought him to Sophia Dorothea's salon in the evening to cheer her up. For the two years he stayed in Hanover, there was no reason to believe their relationship was anything but platonic. He left for a military expedition to the Peloponnese in 1690 — it was a disaster. On his return, the relationship between him and Sophia Dorothea intensified. They began sending each other love letters which suggest that their relationship was consummated.

In 1692, the early letters were shown to the newly appointed Elector Ernest Augustus (Sophia Dorothea's father-in-law). Since a scandal might have threatened his new status, the elector sent Königsmarck to fight with the Hanoverian army against Louis XIV . Other soldiers were given leave to visit Hanover, but he was not. One night Königsmarck deserted his post and rode for six days to visit Hanover. The day after arriving, he called on Field Marshal Heinrich and, confessing his breach of duty, begged for leave to stay in Hanover. It was agreed, though Heinrich suggested that the affair be ended or that Königsmarck leave the country. Ernest August exiled Königsmarck. George Louis criticised his wife over her affair, and she criticised him for his. The argument escalated to the point that the prince threw himself on Sophia Dorothea and started tearing out her hair and strangling her, leaving purple bruise marks. He was pulled off her by her attendants. Königsmarck presumably was killed while assisting her in a futile attempt to escape from Hanover .

In 1694 the Count disappeared (several guards and the Countess Platen confessed on their deathbeds to being involved in his death); the princess was divorced by her husband and nevertheless imprisoned at the Castle of Ahlden . She remained in captivity until her death more than 30 years later on 13 November 1726. Sophia Dorothea is sometimes referred to as the "princess of Ahlden." Her two children were the British king, George II , and Sophia Dorothea , wife of Frederick William I of Prussia , and mother of Frederick the Great . Sophia's infidelity to her husband is not absolutely proven, as it is possible that the letters which purport to have passed between Königsmarck and herself are forgeries. George II was very disturbed by the imprisonment of his mother, and it was one of a number of reasons that contributed to the relationship of mutual hatred between him and his father. Death and burial[ edit ] Sophia Dorothea became ill in August 1726 and had to stay in bed, which she never left again. Before dying, Sophia wrote a letter to her husband, cursing him from beyond the grave.

Her cause of death was liver failure and gallbladder occlusion due to 60 stones.[ citation needed ] Sophia Dorothea was 60 years old and had spent 33 of these years imprisoned. George would not allow mourning in Hanover or London. He was furious when he heard that his daughter's court in Berlin wore black. Sophie Dorothea's body was put into a casket and was deposited in the castle's cellar. It was quietly moved to Celle in May 1727 to be buried beside her parents in the Stadtkirche . George I died 4 weeks later, presumably shortly after receiving his deceased wife's final letter. Popular culture[ edit ] Sophia Dorothea's affair and its tragic outcome is the basis of the 1948 British film Saraband for Dead Lovers . She is played by Joan Greenwood .

Titles, styles, honours and arms[ edit ] 15 September 1666 – 1682: Her Highness Duchess Sophia Dorothea of Brunswick-Celle 1682-October 1692: Her Highness The Hereditary Princess of Brunswick-Lüneburg October 1692 – 1694: Her Serene Highness The Electoral Princess of Hanover 1694-13 November 1726: Sophia Dorothea of Celle Sophia Dorothea Encyclopedia > History > Biographies > British and Irish History: Biographies Sophia Dorothea Sophia Dorothea (sōfĪˈə dŏrəthēˈə) [ key ], 1666–1726, electress of Hanover, wife of Elector George Louis (later King George I of England); sometimes called Sophia Dorothea of Celle. Married to George in 1682, she bore him two children: George, later George II of England, and Sophia Dorothea, who became the wife of Frederick William I of Prussia.

In 1694 she was accused of having an affair with Count Philipp Königsmark . Her presumed lover disappeared (probably murdered), and she herself was divorced and imprisoned for life. George I's harsh treatment of her was one major cause of the king's unpopularity in England. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. George I | Article about George I by The Free Dictionary George I | Article about George I by The Free Dictionary Related to George I: George II , Queen Anne George I (George Louis), 1660–1727, king of Great Britain and Ireland (1714–27); son of Sophia Sophia , 1630–1714, electress of Hanover, consort of Elector Ernest Augustus. She was the daughter of Frederick the Winter King and Elizabeth of Bohemia, who was the daughter of James I of England. ..... Click the link for more information. , electress of Hanover, and great-grandson of James I.

He became (1698) elector of Hanover, fought in the War of the Spanish Succession, and in 1714 succeeded Queen Anne under the provisions of the Act of Settlement Settlement, Act of, 1701, passed by the English Parliament, to provide that if William III and Princess Anne (later Queen Anne) should die without heirs, the succession to the throne should pass to Sophia, electress of Hanover, granddaughter of James I, and to her heirs, if they ..... Click the link for more information. , becoming the first British sovereign of the house of Hanover Hanover, house of, ruling dynasty of Hanover (see Hanover, province), which was descended from the Guelphs and which in 1714 acceded to the British throne in the person of George I. ..... Click the link for more information. .

He was personally unpopular in England because of his German manners, his German mistresses (see Schulenburg, Ehrengard Melusina von der, duchess of Kendal Schulenburg, Ehrengard Melusina von der, duchess of Kendal , 1667–1743, German mistress of George I of England. She became his mistress at the Hanoverian court and followed him to England c.1714. ..... Click the link for more information. ), his treatment of his divorced wife, Sophia Dorothea Sophia Dorothea , 1666–1726, electress of Hanover, wife of Elector George Louis (later King George I of England); sometimes called Sophia Dorothea of Celle. Married to George in 1682, she bore him two children: George, later George II of England, and Sophia Dorothea, who ..... Click the link for more information. , and his inability to speak English.

George's dual role as elector of Hanover and king of England also raised problems; he spent much of his time in Hanover and was widely (although unjustly) believed to be indifferent to English affairs. Yet, despite the uprising of the Jacobites Jacobites , adherents of the exiled branch of the house of Stuart who sought to restore James II and his descendants to the English and Scottish thrones after the Glorious Revolution of 1688. They take their name from the Latin form (Jacobus) of the name James. ..... Click the link for more information. in 1715, his crown was never in danger, for he stood to Englishmen as the guarantee of the "revolution settlement" against a return of the Roman Catholic Stuarts. George's succession brought the Whigs to power, and the early years of his reign saw constant maneuvering for power among his ministers—the 1st Earl Stanhope Stanhope, James Stanhope, 1st Earl, 1673–1721, English general and statesman.

During the War of the Spanish Succession he participated in the capture (1705) of Barcelona, was appointed (1706) minister to Spain, ..... Click the link for more information. , the 3d earl of Sunderland Sunderland, Charles Spencer, 3d earl of, 1674–1722, English statesman; son of the 2d earl. His marriage (1700) to a daughter of the 1st duke of Marlborough brought him a secretaryship of state (1706), and he was ..... Click the link for more information. , Viscount Townshend Townshend, Charles Townshend, 2d Viscount , 1674–1738, English statesman. A leading Whig in the reign of Queen Anne, he served as a commissioner to negotiate the union (1707) with Scotland and as ambassador ..... Click the link for more information. , and Robert Walpole Walpole, Robert, 1st earl of Orford, 1676–1745, English statesman.

Early Life and Career He was the younger son of a prominent Whig family of Norfolk. ..... Click the link for more information. . The principal achievement of these years was the Quadruple Alliance Quadruple Alliance, any of several European alliances. The Quadruple Alliance of 1718 was formed by Great Britain, France, the Holy Roman emperor, and the Netherlands when Philip V of Spain, guided by Cardinal Alberoni, sought by force to nullify the peace settlements reached ..... Click the link for more information. of 1718, which provided an international guarantee of the Hanoverian succession and the status quo of the Peace of Utrecht (1713). Rising to power in the South Sea Bubble South Sea Bubble, popular name in England for the speculation in the South Sea Company, which failed disastrously in 1720. The company was formed in 1711 by Robert Harley, who needed allies to carry through the peace negotiations to end the War of the Spanish Succession. ..... Click the link for more information. crisis, Walpole dominated the end of the reign, beginning his long tenure as virtual prime minister. George was succeeded by his son, George II. Bibliography See biography by J.

H. Plumb, The First Four Georges (1956); A. Redman, The House of Hanover (1960, repr. 1968); B. Williams, The Whig Supremacy, 1714–60 (2d ed. 1962); R. Hatton, George the First: Elector and King (1978). George I, 1845–1913, king of the Hellenes (1863–1913), second son of Christian IX Christian IX, 1818–1906, king of Denmark (1863–1906). A member of the cadet line of Sonderburg-Glücksburg, he succeeded Frederick VII, last of the direct line of Oldenburg. ..... Click the link for more information. of Denmark. After the deposition (1862) of Otto I Otto I, 1815–67, first king of the Hellenes (1833–62).

The second son of King Louis I of Bavaria, he was chosen (1832) by a conference of European powers at London to rule newly independent Greece. He ascended the throne under a highly unpopular regency of Bavarians. ..... Click the link for more information. , he was elected to succeed on the throne of Greece. Much more effective than his predecessor, George introduced (1864) a democratic constitution, acquired (1881) Thessaly and part of Epirus from Turkey, and in 1897 declared war on Turkey in order to aid the insurrection in Crete Crete , Gr. Kríti, island (1991 pop. 539,938), c.3,235 sq mi (8,380 sq km), SE Greece, in the E Mediterranean Sea, c.60 mi (100 km) from the Greek mainland. The largest of the Greek islands, it extends c. ..... Click the link for more information. . Although badly defeated, George's close contacts with most of the ruling houses of Europe helped prevent Turkey from imposing a harsh peace settlement.

George saw Greece through the first of the Balkan Wars Balkan Wars, 1912–13, two short wars, fought for the possession of the European territories of the Ottoman Empire. The outbreak of the Italo-Turkish War for the possession of Tripoli (1911) encouraged the Balkan states to increase their territory at Turkish expense. ..... Click the link for more information. , during which Macedonia was gained, but was assassinated before the outbreak of the second. Harilaos Trikoupis and Eleutherios Venizelos Venizelos, Eleutherios , 1864–1936, Greek statesman, b. Crete. After studying at the Univ. of Athens, he returned to Crete and played a prominent part in the Cretan insurrection of 1896–97. ..... Click the link for more information. were the outstanding political figure in George's reign. George married Grand Duchess Olga, a niece of Alexander II of Russia.

He was succeeded by his son Constantine I Constantine I, 1868–1923, king of the Hellenes, eldest son of George I, whom he succeeded in 1913. Married to Sophia, sister of the German emperor William II, he opposed the pro-Allied policy of the Greek premier, Eleutherios Venizelos, and was forced to abdicate in 1917 ..... Click the link for more information. . George I 1660--1727, first Hanoverian king of Great Britain and Ireland (1714--27) and elector of Hanover (1698--1727).

His dependence in domestic affairs on his ministers led to the emergence of Walpole as the first prime minister Alexander Schäfer (active 1832-60) - Sophia Dorothea of Celle (1668-1726) Alexander Schäfer (active 1832-60) - Sophia Dorothea of Celle (1668-1726) 1845-07-02 Sophia Dorothea of Celle (1668-1726) Signed and dated 1845 Watercolour on ivory laid on card | RCIN 420654 References Description A pencil annotation to the text of the Inventory of Miniatures in the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, 1881, records that this miniaure was ‘after a picture at Herrenhausen’, seat of the Kings of Hanover in Germany.The painting formerly at Herrenhausen may be the portrait by a follower of Henri Gascars sold at the Schloss Marienburg sale, Sotheby’s, Deutschland, 5 – 15 October 2005, lot 61 (present location unknown).

Another annotation on the opposite page in the Royal Library Inventory of 1881 states that the miniature was ‘bought from Mr. Whitehead’s collection, sold at the Fine Art Society’. A miniature of Sophia Dorothea, Queen of George I, unattributed, was exhibited at the Burlington Fine Arts Club 1889, no. 36, and at the New Gallery 1891, no. 979, from the collection of Jeffery Whitehead, but this miniature cannot be associated with the present miniature which was first recorded in the inventories in the Royal Collection in 1851. Sophia Dorothea, daughter of George William, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg and Celle, married in 1682 George, Prince of Hanover, later George I, King of England, by whom she had a son, George II, and a daughter. The marriage failed, and following their divorce in 1694 George I had her confined to the moated castle of Ahlden for the remainder of her life. Signed and dated on the reverse in pencil: A. Schäfer / fec.

/ Hannover / 1845; a label attached to the reverse is inscribed by the artist in ink: [Nach einem Öhlgemäld]e von D.H. Gascar. Venedig 1686 / [c]opirt von A. Schäfer / 1845. A second label attached to the reverse is inscribed in white chalk: Sophia Dorothea / b. 1666 – d. 1726. Provenance First recorded in the Royal Collection during the reign of Queen Victoria People involved

Question: Sophia Dorothea of Celle was married to which British king?
Answer: George I